The idea of a career change can be pretty daunting. If you’re thinking about it but afraid to take a risk, it might help to know that a lot of people have been switching careers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a survey by The Motley Fool, about one-fifth of American workers changed careers from March 2020 to October 2021. These weren’t all entry-level folks either. Respondents most likely to change careers had more than five years of experience, and management occupations saw the most churn. 

While changing careers appears to be pretty common these days, it’s not a decision that you should take lightly. The following questions can help you sort out your feelings on a career change and make a good decision on how to move forward. 

What You Need to Consider Before Thinking of a Career Change

What Do I Like About My Current Career? 

Write down the things you like about your current career. This exercise can provide you with reference points for your next career move. If you are having a hard time thinking about parts of your career that you actually like, try about what you wish your career would look like if you had the ideal job in this career path. Ideally, this list will point you to interests or strengths that you aren’t sufficiently tapping into. 

What is Important in My Personal Life? 

You may hear a lot of talk about “doing what you love” – but feeling fulfilled doesn’t have to mean working a job you’re passionate about. In fact, a study published in 2020 found that pursuing passions outside of a career actually makes work more enjoyable. In fact, there’s a lot of evidence that combining career and passion is a uniquely American ideal that isn’t shared by other developed countries. 

One of the ways to evaluate your career options is to consider what brings you joy in your personal life. Maybe you love being there to support your young children or being able to travel the world. Finding a career with the work flexibility to pay level you want to find fulfillment outside of work can make it easier to put up with a less-than-rewarding job. 

What Would It Take to Change Careers? 

Any time you make a change in life, there will be challenges. When looking to change careers, you may need additional education or certifications. You may be competing with a lot of other, more experienced people for a limited pool of opportunities. You may not have the network connections needed to thrive in your desired career field. 

Before committing to a career change, ask yourself what stepping stones are between you and where you would like to be. The objective is to be conscious of all the challenges so you can recognize and prepare yourself to address them accordingly. 

How Will Changing Careers Affect Those Who Depend on Me? 

Making a career change can negatively impact your finances and could push you to move to a new location. If certain people depend on you, this change will likely impact them. Before committing to any changes, you should probably get the backing of those around you and prepare them for any adjustments. 

We Can Help You Make a Smart Career Move 

Whether you’re only looking to get out of a bad job situation or you’re looking to make a wholesale career change, our staff at The Finders can help you make a smart decision. Contact us today to find out how our experienced staff can support your next big move.